Mayor Johnson Responds to Trump’s National Guard Deployment Announcement

On Monday, Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that President Trump intends to send the National Guard to Chicago.

“Since my first day in office, ensuring public safety has been my top priority. I’ve made notable strides in just two years, managing to reduce murders by over 30% and significantly cutting shootings by nearly 40% last year,” Johnson stated in a press release.

He went on to express concern, saying, “I recently discovered that President Trump has cut $158 million in funding for violence prevention initiatives in cities like Chicago. These reductions have effectively dismantled the Bureau of Gun Violence Prevention and eliminated over $800 million in anti-violence program grants nationwide.”

Johnson suggested that if Trump genuinely wants to make Chicago safer, he should consider restoring funds for essential anti-violence programs that support efforts to reduce crime.

“Deploying the National Guard will only destabilize our cities and undermine our public safety initiatives,” he added.

These remarks follow Trump’s announcement on Monday, where he emphasized control over the District of Columbia police and mentioned the potential deployment of National Guard troops. He also indicated a refusal to eliminate cash bail despite state legislation.

While Trump indicated that around 800 National Guard members would be sent in response to rising crime in the nation’s capital, crime statistics show a significant decrease in crime rates in that area over the past two years.

The president described the situation in the capital as one overtaken by violent gangs and disorder, stating, “We’re not going to allow this to continue anymore.”

Trump’s authority to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department stems from section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, legislation passed in the 1970s enabling Congress to address local governance in DC.

This action in the capital follows the previous deployment of National Guard and Marine troops in Los Angeles, prompting backlash from Democrats and city residents alike.

Additionally, Trump has previously clashed with Chicago officials, having criticized what he termed a significant rise in gun violence in the city back in 2018.

Efforts to reach the White House for comments were made.